2 arrested for Capelle robbery ending in fatal police shooting; Rare for cops to shoot
The police arrested two more suspects for an armed fatbike robbery in Capelle aan den IJssel that ended with the police fatally shooting a 15-year-old suspect at a McDonald’s restaurant on Sunday afternoon. Both arrested suspects are also 15-year-old boys, one from Rotterdam and one from Gouda, the police said on Monday. It’s rare for the Dutch police to fatally shoot a suspect, NOS reported based on police figures.
In the first full statement following the incident, the police said that they responded to a report of an armed robbery on Wisselspoor in Capelle aan den IJssel at 4:15 p.m. The victim was threatened with a firearm, and their fatbike was stolen.
The police tracked a suspect down at the McDonald’s on Hoofdweg a short time later. Because the suspect may be armed, the police approached him carefully. “The suspect fled, and the police warned him several times, after which the police opened fire,” the police said.
The 15-year-old boy from Gouda was fatally hit. Attempts to resuscitate the boy were unsuccessful. He died at the scene. “A firearm was found at the scene. Whether it was a genuine firearm remains to be determined through further investigation,” the police said.
After an investigation into the robbery on Wisselspoor, the police arrested two more suspects: a 15-year-old boy from Rotterdam and a 15-year-old boy from Gouda. They’re in custody for further investigation.
It is quite rare for the Dutch police to shoot at a suspect, let alone fatally shoot someone, NOS reported from police figures. Last year, police officers drew their firearms 1,700 times. In 13 of those incidents, they fired targeted shots at the suspect. One person was killed. In 2023, there were no fatal police shootings. In the previous years, the average was three.
As far as is known, the police fatally shooting a child, as happened in Capelle on Sunday, has never happened in recent history.
When police officers are allowed to use their firearms is stipulated in their official instructions, Patrick Fluyt of the police union ACP and police scientist Jaap Timmer explained to the broadcaster. “They may fire a shot as a warning, in self-defense, or to arrest someone,” Fluyt said.
The person shot at must be suspected of a serious crime, Timmer added. And that was the case in Capelle aan den IJssel on Sunday, but said. “An armed robbery is such a serious crime,” said Timmer. “Moreover, the suspect was considered armed and dangerous.” And the police did not know they were dealing with a child.
Both the police and Public Prosecution Service (OM) have stressed that the boy did not listen to the police officers’ instructions and fled. “In such a case, someone evades arrest. If he then flees, he could walk around with that firearm elsewhere in society and pose a danger there.”
Based on this information, it appears that the police followed the official instructions, Timmer said. Though both he and Fluyt stressed that the Rijksrecherche will determine this in their investigation.
The entire Capelle aan den IJssel is rocked by what happened, Mayor Joost Manusama said on Monday. “Of course, there were many guests present at the time, including many young children,” the Mayor said. “It was Sunday, so there were many families. Everyone is deeply shocked: the witnesses and relatives, but also the police officers involved.” Victim support is available, the mayor said. “I urge anyone who needs it to contact us.”
